According to Wikipedia, researchers have found that “positive emotions help people who were previously under stress relax back to their physiological baseline.”

To locate VMC optimists, we sent an e-mail to VMC managers asking for the names of any employees who stick out as dependably upbeat.

• Emily Powers' breast cancer has been in remission for eight years.

“A sense of humor is a wonderful buffer against any kind of adversity. Having a sense of humor and being able to see the positive side of things will lengthen your life,” said Powers, a receptionist for Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation. “Every day to me is a gift. I'm very glad to be here.”

Powers asked whether we had heard about the new Jewish-Japanese restaurant on 2nd Avenue. … “It's called So Sue Me,” she said. Powers also passes on this economic tip from her father: take care of your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves.

• Harold Kendrick, is a family and guest services representative at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

“Personally, the recession hasn't hurt me one iota. But I can see people are hurting. I can see the frustration and agony walking in the front door every day,” said Kendrick, who works at the hospital entrance.

“I'm not an eternal optimist, but I take pride in being positive. Not to play the armchair philosopher, but after a certain point in life you come to see the broader picture of what's important for yourself. … My attitude is that things can be done, and when they can't, you can always look forward to when they can be. I always feel better when I'm working toward a positive outcome, however small it may be.”